Lawn Tennis DAVIS CUP TEAMS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28371, 2 September 1957, Page 4

Lawn Tennis DAVIS CUP TEAMS

Financing Of Programme Clarification of a Preaa Aaioclation report from Wellington of New Zealand Lawn Tennis tion’s Davis Cup programme was given by Mr S. Ransom, of Welling, ton, chairman of the management committee. The report quoted several recommendations for the coming season, made by the management committee and approved at the annual meeting of the association. A part of the recommendations not quoted said: “At the same time the management committee is firmly of the opinion that, in the event of players finally available for the (Davis Cup) team not being among the best in the country or not reaching a standard which the selection committee can confidently recommend as being adequate to represent this country with credit in open tournaments overseas, no team should be sent.

“It has always to be remembered that a final sending of a team is contingent upon the acceptance of a New Zealand entry in the European zone. The management committee feels it is important to capitalise on the good work done by Mr Mercer and Mr Gunn in England, and to make use as soon as possible of the contacts they have made. A tour next season would be much easier to arrange than the last one, and would go some way towards consolidating what they have started. “The management committee feels, too, that the intention should be made known to enter a team in the Davis Cup at least for the next two' or three seasons. If players know that that programme has beenj adopted, they would have something! to work for. | “It must at this stage be pointed! out that the finances of the assoJ elation cannot carry such • prof gramme unless the team sent awaw happened to be more successfiff] financially than in the past. this reason, further consideratH 0n must be given to financial strength of the asamMa, tion.” Mr Ransom said the comment\on finance made by the management committee was necessarily applied to the long-term project. The 19|n tour under Mr Mercer had been nln at a very small loss, but the eiKßciation could not incur even such <a moderate loss every year.

Round Of Matches Before Selection

Before the next New Zealand Devil Cup team is selected, the New Zealand selectors will choose six tc eight players to play against eact other in a tournament in one o. the main centres. Mr M. C. Healey one of the selectors, reported tbii to the annual meeting of the New Zealard Lawn Tennis Association. Mr Healey said this would Overcome the problem of some players In the cup team not meeting teammates in national and inter-island